Preston mum says she “doesn’t blame” teens who “smashed up” her son’s memorial bench

A Preston mum whose son’s memorial bench was “smashed up and tossed into a canal” has said she blames “bored” youngsters who have “nothing better to do”.

Alexander was run over by a Ford Galaxy on Tom Benson Way, near where the River Ribble connects to the Lancaster Canal, in 2009. He and his friends would cross the 40mph road regularly to get to one another’s houses.

Beverley would later learn from witness statements that the driver had “tried to swerve at the last second, but it was too late”. The driver was found guilty of careless driving at Preston Crown Court a year later.

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To commemorate Alexander’s life, his family were offered a wooden memorial bench with his name engraved on it. It was placed some 20 yards away from where he was hit, and is visited regularly by his family and friends, LancsLive reported.

But last month, Beverley received a call from her daughter Xanthe, who said the bench was missing. Beverley posted a message in her local Facebook group, thinking the council may have removed it.

A member of the group said they had spotted young people “smashing it up and throwing it into the lock next to the canal”. But Beverley, a child and adolescent counsellor, said she doesn’t blame the people responsible, and has not reported the incident to police.

“The devil makes work for idle hands – kids who are happy and content don’t smash benches up and throw them into the canal,” said the 61-year-old.

“It’s not like they thought, oh look at this, we don’t care, it just didn’t even occur to them. That’s kids who are bored and have nothing to do, and they’re just entertaining themselves.”

Beverley’s other daughter Cassie launched a fundraiser on GoFundMe for £500 to help pay for a new bench, which has already exceeded its target. Beverley said she would like to donate any extra money to building a youth centre in Preston so that teenagers have more activities to keep them occupied.

“I’m very sympathetic to young people’s plights,” she said.

She has written to her MP Maya Ellis requesting the government do more to support young people in Preston. “This needs to stop,” she said. “We need to give these young people some hope, some guidance, something to do.”

She hasn’t yet ordered a replacement bench yet – but expressed her gratitude for those that had made a contribution.

“If there wasn’t enough money, I was quite prepared to cover the lot, but I was really shocked. One of Alexander’s friends actually donated £100,” she said. “From the bottom of my heart I thank them and everyone who has donated.

“It’s been really heart-warming to see that people care.”

The GoFundMe for Alexander's family can be found here.